USA vs. China Ways (8.3)

What are the Inherited Barriers China Faces in Science Development?

China has a famous so called “the Great Wall Dilemma”. That is, with the goal of using the great wall to defend the country, the higher and stronger the wall got built up, the better. Not really, the dilemma is that as the wall got built up, the country also got more isolated and alienated from the outer world. Something the Chinese feels very proud of is actually a double bladed sword.

Science and technology development is facing similar dilemma in China. The Chinses system wants to take a tight ideological control while developing science. Is that possible in practice? For instance, the Chinese government set a great firewall to filter and block any inbound and outbound Internet traffic they deem harmful politically. By doing this, however, they also slow down or even block the Chinse scientists and students smooth reach to the scientific forums, data, and communications with the rest of the world.

Are they aware of this trade-off? Believe they do. But why do they still implement the great firewall? Well, guess they have no other better choices. The weakness is kind of inherited with the current political establishment and nearly impossible to get over.

Also CPC and the Chinse government wants to put everything in country under their leadership or control, while science and technology really need openness, independence and autonomy to boost and thrust.

Are the Chinese authorities aware of this trade-off or contradiction? Believe they do. But they feel they have no other better choices. The weakness is kind of inherited with the current political establishment and nearly impossible to get over.

Also the Chinese may believe the development of science and technologies is a matter of financial funding. As long as they put in money, they will see good results of development quickly. Not really true. While funding in important to science and technologies, the scientific environment for such development is also critical and that’s is something money can’t buy over.

A positive and supporting environment for science and technologies development can only be achieved through reforms and openness. Otherwise the more money you put into the black hone, the more corruptions…